Many lighthouses and lighthouse groups around the nation will hold special activities on August 7th, National Lighthouse Day, that commemorates the date of August 7, 1789 when lighthouses in the United States were federalized.

Records indicate that the flag, which was a pennant, was officially adopted by the Light House Board on September 3, 1888; however, it is widely believed that the flag was in use well before that, perhaps unofficially.

During this time in history, it is now vital to remember and honor the flag of the United States Lighthouse Service that was in use up until July 7, 1939, when it was officially discontinued and replaced by the flag of the United States Coast Guard, which, in 1939, took over the duties of the United States Lighthouse Service.

Although the flag was not always displayed at lighthouses, it was commonly flown on lightships and lighthouse tenders of the United States Lighthouse Service. Even though it was not always flown at lighthouses, the men and women in the U.S. Lighthouse Service, did, for all practical purposes, serve under it.

This story appeared in the
Jul/Aug 2018 edition of Lighthouse Digest Magazine. The print edition contains more stories than our internet edition, and each story generally contains more photographs - often many more - in the print edition. For subscription information about the print edition, click here.